Random Kindness Reported

In this morning's Post-Gazette:

Five friends and I had just finished our dessert at Aladdin's Eatery before heading to Mt. Lebanon High School's Homecoming Dance in mid-October. We began to squabble over how to split the bill among ourselves.

A young couple sitting nearby leaned over and motioned to speak. I braced myself, expecting them to comment on our behavior -- after all, we were a bunch of squabbling high schoolers.

Instead, they declared that they wanted to pay our bill.

We were in complete shock to hear their generous offer, and reflexively began to decline, But they insisted on paying, explaining that they simply wanted us to have a good time and not have to worry about paying for dinner.

We hope that wonderful couple realizes how impressed we are by their unexpected kindness -- and how they influenced our outlook on life.

On the way to the dance, one of my friends proclaimed, "I hope one day when I'm older, I can do the same thing for another group of kids."

Although the couple wished only to give us one fun evening, they actually impacted us for years to come. We have experienced the importance of "paying it forward" and hope to share the same generosity that we were given.

Thank you for reminding us to give anonymously -- and inspiring us to emulate your actions.

-- RACHEL McMONAGLE, Mt. Lebanon

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07354/843122-294.stm